Congressional incumbents outraise opponents

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CAPITAL NEWS SERVICE

Maryland's congressional incumbents handily outraised their challengers in campaign funds in the 2008 third quarter, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

The only district in which fundraising by two opponents was relatively equal was in the 1st District, where the seat is open after the incumbent lost in the primary.

State Sen. Andrew P. Harris, Baltimore County Republican, and Democratic opponent Frank M. Kratovil Jr., the Queen Anne's state's attorney, this quarter raised $557,000 and $597,000, respectively.

However, Mr. Harris leads Mr. Kratovil in total fundraising by more than $1 million and has about $250,000 more cash on hand than Mr. Kratovil, according to FEC filings. The finance information was due last week to the commission.

Stephen Weissman, of the District-based Campaign Finance Institute, said an incumbent with more money is typical in congressional races but does not guarantee victory.

"It works out that well over 90 percent of the time, but challengers can defeat incumbents even if they have less money," he said. "The rule of thumb would be if you have about half as much money as the incumbent, you ... have a chance of winning."

In District 4, Rep. Donna F. Edwards, Fort Washington Democrat, has $47,424 cash on hand, while Republican opponent Peter James has $464 and no contributions this quarter.

Mrs. Edwards received $58,754.64 during the third quarter, with more than one-fifth of the money coming from political action committees such as Democracy for America and Women's Campaign Forum.

In District 5, House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, Mechanicsville Democrat, raised $384,265 in third-quarter contributions for re-election. His campaign has more than $1.5 million in cash on hand.

His Republican challenger, Collins Bailey, of Waldorf, raised $13,864 in the third quarter, according to his campaign.

In the 6th District, Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett, Frederick Republican, reported nearly $50,000 more in total contributions and about $350,000 more in cash on hand than his Democratic challenger, former Frederick Mayor Jennifer P. Dougherty. Mr. Bartlett received $78,538.91 in contributions while Mrs. Dougherty received $30,432.

In the 7th District, incumbent Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Baltimore Democrat, is the only major party contender.

Eighth District incumbent Rep. Chris Van Hollen, Montgomery County Democrat, has more cash on hand, $2.7 million, than any other congressional candidate in Maryland.

His war chest dwarfs those of Republican challenger Steve Hudson, with $5,515, and Green Party candidate Gordon Clark, with $4,535.